Jaspers Suffer Setback at Marist

RIVERDALE, N.Y. - Jaspers' junior Mark Onoratidelivered a go ahead grand slam in the top of the seventh, but Marist (11-9, 2-1 MAAC) responded with five runs in the bottom of the inning to defeat Manhattan 7-5 on Sunday in Poughkeepsie, N.Y. Onorati also notched his league leading 11th double of the season as Manhattan (11-9, 1-2 MAAC) dropped its MAAC opening series.

Jaspers' senior starter Tom Costiganwent inning for inning with Red Foxes' red-shirt sophomore starter Chad Gallagher in a pitching duel. Costigan made it into the sixth inning before turning the ball over to freshman reliever John Soldingerafter surrendering the second run of the ballgame. Costigan recorded four strikeouts.

Onorati erased the 2-1 deficit in the seventh when he launched his third home run of the year over the left field wall clearing the bases to give Manhattan a three run cushion. Onorati hit .400 (6-15) in the three game series and stole two bases.

In a wild bottom of the seventh inning, Marist worked five runs off Soldinger who entered the game on a streak of five consecutive scoreless innings. Red Foxes' senior second baseman John Prano drove in the first run of the inning with a two-out RBI single up the middle. Then after a fielding error which allowed another run across the plate, junior left fielder Ricky Pacione posted the decisive three RBI triple to take a 7-5 advantage.

Marist reliever Dan Zlotnick earned the win after throwing 1 2/3 innings with two strikeouts. Junior right-hander Brendan Chapin picked up the save retiring all three Jaspers faced in the ninth. Soldinger was given the loss going 2 2/3 innings, posting two strikeouts and allowing one earned run.